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m Corrected name.
Undid revision 1258193661 by 67.11.2.113 (talk) we already say that they were practicing in 1979; I'm not sure if they first used the name Red Cross in 1979 or 1980, but bandcamp is not a reliable source
 
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| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| alias = The Tourists, Red Cross
| alias = {{hlist|The Tourists|Red Cross}}
| origin = [[Hawthorne, California]], U.S.
| origin = [[Hawthorne, California]], U.S.
| instrument =
| instrument =
| genre = [[Alternative rock]], [[power pop]], [[pop punk]], [[hardcore punk]], [[punk rock]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[power pop]]|[[punk rock]]|[[pop punk]]}}
| occupation =
| occupation =
| years_active = 1980–1997, 2004–present
| years_active = {{hlist|1980–1997|2004–present}}
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], [[Circle Jerks]], [[Bad Religion]], [[Off! (band)|OFF!]], [[Melvins]]
| associated_acts = [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], [[Circle Jerks]], [[Bad Religion]], [[Off! (band)|OFF!]], [[Melvins]]
| website = https://reddkross.com
| website = https://reddkross.com
| current_members = [[Jeff McDonald]]<br>[[Steven Shane McDonald|Steve McDonald]]<br>Jason Shapiro<br>[[Dale Crover]]
| current_members = Jeff McDonald<br>[[Steven Shane McDonald|Steve McDonald]]<br>Jason Shapiro<br>[[Dale Crover]]
| past_members = [[Dez Cadena]]<br>Gere Fennelly<br>[[Robert Hecker]]<br>[[Greg Hetson]]<br>Janet Housden<br>[[Victor Indrizzo]]<br>[[Jack Irons]]<br>Eddie Kurdziel<br>Tracy Lea<br>Dave Peterson<br>[[Vicki Peterson]]<br>[[Brian Reitzell]]<br>[[Ron Reyes]]<br>John Stielow<br>Eric Skodis<br>Roy McDonald <br>Chett Lehrer
| past_members = [[Dez Cadena]]<br>Gere Fennelly<br>[[Robert Hecker]]<br>[[Greg Hetson]]<br>Janet Housden<br>[[Victor Indrizzo]]<br>[[Jack Irons]]<br>Eddie Kurdziel<br>Tracy Lea<br>Dave Peterson<br>[[Vicki Peterson]]<br>[[Brian Reitzell]]<br>[[Ron Reyes]]<br>John Stielow<br>Eric Skodis<br>Roy McDonald <br>Chett Lehrer
}}
}}
'''Redd Kross''' is an American [[alternative rock]]/[[punk rock]] band from [[Hawthorne, California]], who had their roots in 1978 in a punk rock band called '''the Tourists''', which was started by brothers [[Jeff McDonald|Jeff]] and [[Steven Shane McDonald|Steve McDonald]] while Steve was still in [[middle school]].<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|pages=404/5}}</ref> With the addition of friends [[Greg Hetson]] and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]. The band has since released seven albums and three EPs.
'''Redd Kross''' is an American [[Rock music|rock]] band from [[Hawthorne, California]], who had their roots in 1978 in a [[punk rock]] band called '''the Tourists''', which was started by brothers Jeff and [[Steven Shane McDonald|Steve McDonald]] while Steve was still in [[middle school]].<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|pages=404/5}}</ref> With the addition of friends [[Greg Hetson]] and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]. The band has since released eight albums and three EPs.


==Career==
==Career==
===Red Cross===
===Red Cross===
In April 1979, the band had their first practice in the living room of original drummer, John Stielow's parent's living room. The first song they played was 'Annette's Got the Hits'. Other songs such as 'Cover Band', 'S&M Party' and 'I Hate My School' were also played that same first practice.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} They eventually changed the band name to Red Cross, which was allegedly inspired by the masturbation scene in the film ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dannolte.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381|title=The Last • View topic - A few interesting dates that nobody asked for|date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064400/http://www.dannolte.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> They soon began working on their 1980 debut [[Red Cross (EP)|self-titled EP]]. Eventually, Hetson left to join the [[Circle Jerks]] (and later [[Bad Religion]]) and Reyes left for [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]].<ref name="Larkin80"/> They appeared on the Posh Boy compilation ''The Siren'', and then to complete the lineup on their first full-length album, ''[[Born Innocent (Redd Kross album)|Born Innocent]]'', they assembled a [[revolving door]] of musicians including original drummer John Stielow.<ref name="Larkin80"/> Full of the brothers' [[popular culture|pop culture]] obsessions, ''Born Innocent'' featured odes to [[Linda Blair]] (who starred in a [[Born Innocent (film)|television movie of the same name]]), a cover of "Look on Up from the Bottom" by the Carrie Nations from ''[[Beyond the Valley of the Dolls]]'', and [[Charles Manson]] (whose song "[[Cease to Exist (Charles Manson song)|Cease to Exist]]" they covered). The album also contains nods to [[Jim Bakker|Jim]] and [[Tammy Faye Messner|Tammy Faye Bakker]], [[Tatum O'Neal]], and [[Lita Ford]]. Not long after the release of the album, the group was threatened with a [[lawsuit]] from the [[International Red Cross]] and changed the spelling of their name to Redd Kross,<ref name="Larkin80"/> allegedly being inspired by [[Redd Foxx]].
In April 1979, the band had their first practice in the living room of original drummer, John Stielow's parent's home. They eventually changed the band name to Red Cross, which was allegedly inspired by the masturbation scene in the film ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dannolte.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381|title=The Last • View topic - A few interesting dates that nobody asked for|date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064400/http://www.dannolte.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381|access-date=July 21, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> They soon began working on their 1980 debut [[Red Cross (EP)|self-titled EP]]. Eventually, Hetson left to join the [[Circle Jerks]] (and later [[Bad Religion]]) and Reyes left for [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]].<ref name="Larkin80"/> They appeared on the Posh Boy compilation ''The Siren'', and then to complete the lineup on their first full-length album, ''[[Born Innocent (Redd Kross album)|Born Innocent]]'', they assembled a [[revolving door]] of musicians including original drummer John Stielow.<ref name="Larkin80"/> Full of the brothers' [[popular culture|pop culture]] obsessions, ''Born Innocent'' featured odes to [[Linda Blair]] (who starred in a [[Born Innocent (film)|television movie of the same name]]), a cover of "Look on Up from the Bottom" by the Carrie Nations from ''[[Beyond the Valley of the Dolls]]'', and [[Charles Manson]] (whose song "[[Cease to Exist (Charles Manson song)|Cease to Exist]]" they covered). The album also contains nods to [[Jim Bakker|Jim]] and [[Tammy Faye Messner|Tammy Faye Bakker]], [[Tatum O'Neal]], and [[Lita Ford]]. Not long after the release of the album, the group was threatened with a [[lawsuit]] from the [[International Red Cross]] and changed the spelling of their name to Redd Kross.<ref name="Larkin80"/>


===Redd Kross===
===Redd Kross===
In 1984, Redd Kross returned with drummer Dave Peterson to record ''[[Teen Babes from Monsanto]]'', an album featuring covers by [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]], [[David Bowie]], [[The Rolling Stones]], and [[The Shangri-Las]]. In 1984, lead guitarist [[Robert Hecker]] joined the band, as they embarked on tour in support of ''Teen Babes from Monsanto''. In that same year, they were featured on [[Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] of ''[[Desperate Teenage Lovedolls]]'' with their cover of the ''[[The Brady Bunch|Brady Bunch Kids]]''' "It's a Sunshine Day". Jeff and Steve appear in the movie, along with Robert in the sequel ''[[Lovedolls Superstar (film)|Lovedolls Superstar]]'' which the brothers co-wrote with [[Dave Markey]] and Jennifer Schwartz. Both movies are available now on DVD.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
In 1984, Redd Kross returned with drummer Dave Peterson to record ''[[Teen Babes from Monsanto]]'', an album featuring covers. Later that year, lead guitarist [[Robert Hecker]] joined the band, as they embarked on tour in support of ''Teen Babes from Monsanto''. In that same year, they were featured on [[Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (soundtrack)|the soundtrack]] of ''[[Desperate Teenage Lovedolls]]'' with their cover of the ''[[The Brady Bunch|Brady Bunch Kids]]''' "It's a Sunshine Day".


In 1987, Redd Kross released ''[[Neurotica (album)|Neurotica]]''.
In 1985, drummer Roy McDonald (later of [[The Muffs]] and formerly of The Things, and no relation to the brothers) joined the band.

In 1987, Redd Kross released ''[[Neurotica (album)|Neurotica]]'', an album reportedly influenced by [[Saturday morning cartoons]] and [[breakfast cereal]] (one of the songs was called "Frosted Flake"). Although the album itself was successful, the band's label, [[Big Time Records (label)|Big Time Records]] folded. The band continued to tour during these years however, and in 1988, drummer [[Victor Indrizzo]] joined the band.

===Tater Totz===
As the Tater Totz, the McDonalds teamed with Pat Fear of [[White Flag (band)|White Flag]] and [[Michael Quercio]] from [[The Three O'Clock]] and released ''Alien Sleestaks from Brazil'', the title a tribute to the series ''[[Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)|Land of the Lost]]''. Another cover collection, it included songs originally by [[Queen (band)|Queen]] and [[Yoko Ono]], and featured a cover of [[The Beatles]]' "[[I've Just Seen a Face]]" with lead vocals by guest [[Danny Bonaduce]]. The second Tater Totz album, ''[[Sgt. Shonen's Exploding Plastic Eastman Band Request Mono! Stereo]]'', was released in 1989, and included [[Cherie Currie]] of [[The Runaways]], and [[Pat Smear]]. A third Tater Totz album was released called ''Tater Comes Alive''. A side project, Anarchy 6 had two releases, ''Hardcore Lives!'' and a cassette-only album ''Live Like a Suicidal'', and was featured in ''[[Lovedolls Superstar (film)|Lovedolls Superstar]]''.


===1990s===
===1990s===
[[File:Jeff McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo 2017, by Aaron Rubin.jpg|thumb|Jeff McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo, Mosswood Park, Oakland, California, 2017]]
[[File:Jeff McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo 2017, by Aaron Rubin.jpg|thumb|Jeff McDonald at Burger Boogaloo, Mosswood Park, Oakland, California, 2017]]
On February 20, 1990, Redd Kross appeared on Episode 2 of the cult [[Public-access television]] show "Decoupage" with Summer Caprice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.decoupagetv.com/yesclips0201.html |title=Yesterday Clips Gallery |website=Decoupagetv.com |access-date=2012-04-03}}</ref>
On February 20, 1990, Redd Kross appeared on Episode 2 of the cult [[Public-access television]] show "Decoupage" with Summer Caprice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.decoupagetv.com/yesclips0201.html |title=Yesterday Clips Gallery |website=Decoupagetv.com |access-date=2012-04-03}}</ref>


In 1990, Redd Kross signed with [[Atlantic Records]], releasing ''[[Third Eye (Redd Kross album)|Third Eye]]'',<ref name="Larkin80"/> and appeared with [[David Cassidy]] in the film ''[[Spirit of '76 (1990 film)|Spirit of '76]]'', and issued several singles, including "Annie's Gone", which had some mild success on college radio. Former [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] / future [[Pearl Jam]] drummer [[Jack Irons]] joined for the [[Third Eye (Redd Kross album)|Third Eye]] tours, and appears in the promotional video for "Annie's Gone", which saw some light rotation on MTV. [[Brian Reitzell]] succeeded Irons as drummer in the band, and appears in the promotional video for "1976".
In 1990, Redd Kross signed with [[Atlantic Records]], releasing ''[[Third Eye (Redd Kross album)|Third Eye]]'',<ref name="Larkin80"/> and appeared with [[David Cassidy]] in the film ''[[Spirit of '76 (1990 film)|Spirit of '76]]'', and issued several singles, including "Annie's Gone", which had some mild success on college radio.


⚫
The album ''[[Phaseshifter]]'' was released in 1993,<ref name="Larkin80"/> with new band members Eddie Kurdziel, Gere Fennelly, and Brian Reitzell. The videos for "Jimmy's Fantasy" and "Lady In The Front Row" were both shown on MTV's [[120 Minutes]]. They toured on ''Phaseshifter'' for over a year, headlining their own shows as well as tours supporting [[The Lemonheads]] and [[The Spin Doctors]] in late 1993 and [[Stone Temple Pilots]] in 1994.
In 1991, [[Robert Hecker]] took leave from the band.


⚫
In 1997, Redd Kross released ''[[Show World]]'',<ref name="Larkin80"/> produced by Chris Shaw (who also produced albums for [[Weezer]] and [[Soul Asylum]]) and toured supporting [[The Presidents of the United States of America (band)|The Presidents of the United States of America]]. The band took an indefinite hiatus after the ''[[Show World]]'' tour, and their future was uncertain after the death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel on June 6, 1999.
⚫
The album ''[[Phaseshifter]]'' was released in 1993,<ref name="Larkin80"/> with new band members Eddie Kurdziel, Gere Fennelly, and Brian Reitzell. The videos for "Jimmy's Fantasy" and "Lady In The Front Row" were both shown on MTV's [[120 Minutes]]. They toured on ''Phaseshifter'' for over a year, headlining their own shows as well as tours supporting [[The Lemonheads]] and [[The Spin Doctors]] in late 1993 and [[Stone Temple Pilots]] in 1994. In 1995, Jeff and his wife, [[Charlotte Caffey]] (from [[The Go-Go's]]), had a daughter named Astrid.


⚫
In 1997, Redd Kross released ''[[Show World]]'',<ref name="Larkin80"/> produced by Chris Shaw (who also produced albums for [[Weezer]] and [[Soul Asylum]]) and toured supporting [[The Presidents of the United States of America (band)|The Presidents of the United States of America]]. The band took an indefinite hiatus after the ''[[Show World]]'' tour, and their future was uncertain after the untimely death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel on June 6, 1999.


⚫
===2000s===
[[File:Steve McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo 2017, by Aaron Rubin.jpg|thumb|Steve McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo, Mosswood Park, Oakland, California, 2017]]
[[File:Steve McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo 2017, by Aaron Rubin.jpg|thumb|Steve McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo, Mosswood Park, Oakland, California, 2017]]
On July 1, 2006, Redd Kross returned to the live stage after almost a decade's absence. The ''Neurotica''-era line up of Jeff McDonald, Steven McDonald, Robert Hecker and Roy McDonald performed a career-spanning set at the [[REDCAT]] (Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theater) at [[Disney Hall]] in Los Angeles. The band has subsequently gone on to play at the Azkena Festival in Spain, the Detour Festival in Los Angeles, give a performance of their entire first EP in honor of [[Rodney Bingenheimer|Rodney Bingenheimer's]] being awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard, and a set consisting of the entire ''Born Innocent'' album opening for [[Sonic Youth]] (who performed ''[[Daydream Nation]]'') at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. They toured Spain and England in January, 2007. They have played a number of one-off shows including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. In 2008 they played the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival|Coachella Festival]] in Coachella, California; ATP vs Pitchfork festival in Sussex, England; and NXNE Festival in Toronto, Ontario.


=== 2010s ===
=== 2010s ===
In 2010, Redd Kross headlined the Turbo Rock Festival in Spain. In 2011, they headlined the POP Montreal Festival.


⚫
In 2019, Emmy Award-winning television comedy writer Andrew Reich, best known as an Executive Producer on ''[[Friends]]'', was directing a documentary on the band called ''Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2019-09-10 |title=Legendary L.A. Band Redd Kross Drop Trailer for 'Born Innocent' Documentary |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/redd-kross-trailer-born-innocent-documentary-1203328857/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
Redd Kross toured Australia as part of the Hoodoo Gurus' 30th Anniversary on the "Dig It Up" Festival concert series. Jason Shapiro of the band Celebrity Skin played guitar, sitting in for Robert Hecker on these dates. Shapiro currently records and tours as the band's lead guitarist.


⚫
=== 2020s ===
''[[Researching the Blues]]'' was released on Merge Records on August 7, 2012. They also put out a split single and performing with the [[Melvins]] on December 31, 2012, on [[Amphetamine Reptile Records]].


⚫
On June 26, 2020, the band reissued their debut EP on Merge Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/72427/redd-kross-to-re-issue-debut-ep|title=Redd Kross to re-issue debut EP|website=Punknews.org|date=April 16, 2020 |access-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref>
The band returned to Australia in March 2013, touring with Dinosaur Jr.


⚫
Steven McDonald and Redd Kross were included in a feature article for the 25th anniversary of [[TapeOp]] magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steven McDonald & Redd Kross: What's a Band to Do? |url=https://tapeop.com/interviews/142/steven-mcdonald-amp-redd-kross/ |website=tapeop.com |access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref>
In June 2015, their EP ''Teen Babes From Monsanto'' was reissued as a limited edition (250) full-length 12-inch vinyl record; it sold out in 24 hours.


The documentary ''Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story'' received its Los Angeles premiere at the Don't Knock the Rock Festival on May 23, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2024-05-21 |title=The Story of Redd Kross, the Most Underrated Band of Their Generation, Is Told in Fascinating Detail in the New Documentary 'Born Innocent' |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/redd-kross-born-innocent-documentary-film-review-1236010942/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[Dale Crover]] is currently the touring drummer of the band during their 2017 tours supporting [[The Melvins]]. As of November 2017, Crover joined the band full-time and is Redd Kross' drummer.


On June 28, 2024, Redd Kross released its 8th studio album, a self-titled double album, featuring singles "Candy Coloured Catastrophe" and "Too Good to Be True."
August 23, 2019 saw the release of the seventh album titled ''[[Beyond The Door (Album)|Beyond the Door]]'' on [[Merge Records]]. The albums included eight new songs and covers of "The Party" from [[Blake Edwards]] 1968 [[The Party (1968 film)|film of the same name]] written by [[Henry Mancini]] and a version of [[Sparks (band)|Sparks]] 90's dance hit, "[[When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way']]". The album featured appearances from [[Buzz Osborne]], Gere Fennelly, and [[Josh Klinghoffer]], and composing credits for [[Anna Waronker]] and [[Kim Shattuck]].

⚫
Also in 2019, Emmy Award-winning television comedy writer Andrew Reich, best known as an Executive Producer on ''[[Friends]]'', was directing a documentary on the band called ''Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=2019-09-10 |title=Legendary L.A. Band Redd Kross Drop Trailer for 'Born Innocent' Documentary |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/redd-kross-trailer-born-innocent-documentary-1203328857/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

⚫
On June 26, 2020, the band reissued their debut EP on Merge Records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/72427/redd-kross-to-re-issue-debut-ep|title=Redd Kross to re-issue debut EP|website=Punknews.org|access-date=September 20, 2020}}</ref>

⚫
Steven McDonald and Redd Kross were included in a feature article for the 25th anniversary of [[TapeOp]] magazine.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steven McDonald & Redd Kross: What's a Band to Do? |url=https://tapeop.com/interviews/142/steven-mcdonald-amp-redd-kross/ |website=tapeop.com |access-date=21 April 2021}}</ref>


==Side projects==
==Side projects==
Steve McDonald fronted the hardcore punk parody band Anarchy 6, which included three members from [[Sin 34]], Mike Glass (guitar), Phil Newman (bass), and Dave Markey (drums). Using the pseudonyms Chemical Warfare (McDonald), Spike Geek (Glass), HC Skinner (Marmon), and Mark Davey (Markey), they released the studio album ''Hardcore Lives!'' in 1988, and a live album with cover songs ''Live Like a Suicide'' 1990.


The McDonald brothers collaborated with Astrid McDonald (Jeff's daughter with Charlotte Caffey, guitarist for [[The Go-Go's]]) and Anna Waronker (Steve's wife, frontwoman of [[That Dog]]) on a side project. Performing as Ze Malibu Kids, they released the album ''Sound It Out'' in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-it-out-mw0000368783 |title=Sound It Out - Ze Malibu Kids : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2013-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/ze-malibu-kids/1686719 |title=Ze Malibu Kids @ARTISTdirect |publisher=Artistdirect.com |access-date=2013-06-04}}</ref>
The McDonald brothers collaborated with Astrid McDonald (Jeff's daughter with Charlotte Caffey, guitarist for [[The Go-Go's]]) and Anna Waronker (Steve's wife, frontwoman of [[That Dog]]) on a side project. Performing as Ze Malibu Kids, they released the album ''Sound It Out'' in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sound-it-out-mw0000368783 |title=Sound It Out - Ze Malibu Kids : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=2013-06-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/ze-malibu-kids/1686719 |title=Ze Malibu Kids @ARTISTdirect |publisher=Artistdirect.com |access-date=2013-06-04}}</ref>

Both McDonald brothers appeared with [[David Cassidy]] in the comedy film ''[[The Spirit of '76 (1990 film)|The Spirit of '76]]''.
<ref>{{cite web | title=The Spirit of '76 (1990) | website=IMDb | date=22 October 2023 | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100670/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm | access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>


==Soundtracks==
==Soundtracks==
Redd Kross songs appear on various on the soundtracks to ''[[Good Burger]]'', ''[[PCU (movie)|PCU]]'', ''[[Bordello of Blood]]'', ''[[An American Werewolf in Paris]]'', and ''[[Varsity Blues (film)|Varsity Blues]]''. They contributed one song "It's a Scream" for the 2000 film ''[[Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday The Thirteenth]]'' but neither the soundtrack nor the song itself were ever released. The song "Uglier" was licensed and used in the film ''[[Hits (film)|Hits]]'' by [[David Cross]].
Redd Kross songs appear on the soundtracks to ''[[Desperate Teenage Lovedolls]]'', ''[[Good Burger]]'', ''[[PCU (movie)|PCU]]'', ''[[Bordello of Blood]]'', ''[[An American Werewolf in Paris]]'', and ''[[Varsity Blues (film)|Varsity Blues]]''. Their song "1976" plays over the end credits of the 1990 movie ''Spirit of '76''. They contributed one song "It's a Scream" for the 2000 film ''[[Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday The Thirteenth]]'' but the soundtrack was never released and the song itself wasn't heard until it appeared on ''Hot Issue'' in 2016. The song "Uglier" was licensed and used in the film ''[[Hits (film)|Hits]]'' by [[David Cross]].{{cn|date=October 2023}}


==Discography==
==Discography==
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| 2019
| 2019
|Merge
|Merge
| —
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Redd Kross (album)|Redd Kross]]'' AKA ''The Redd Album''
| 2024
|In the Red Records
| —
| —
|}
|}
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===Compilations===
===Compilations===
* ''Hot Issue'' (Redd Kross Fashion Records) (2016)
* ''Hot Issue'' (Redd Kross Fashion Records) (2016)
* ''Oh Canada! Hot Issue Vol. 2: Show World Tour Live'' (Redd Kross Fashion Records) (2016)


===DVDs===
===DVDs===
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* ''American Youth Report'' (Invasion Records) (1982)
* ''American Youth Report'' (Invasion Records) (1982)
** Includes "Notes and Chords Mean Nothing to Me"
** Includes "Notes and Chords Mean Nothing to Me"
* ''[[Enigma Variations (album)|Enigma Variations]]'' ([[Enigma]]/[[Virgin]]) (1985)
* ''[[Enigma Variations (album)|Enigma Variations]]'' ([[Enigma Records|Enigma]]/[[Virgin]]) (1985)
** Includes "Citadel"
** Includes "Citadel"
* ''The Melting Pot'' ([[SST Records|SST]]) (1988)
* ''The Melting Pot'' ([[SST Records|SST]]) (1988)
** Billed as Revolution 409 performs covers of [[The Osmonds]] - [[Crazy Horses]] & [[The Sylvers]], [[Boogie Fever]].
** Billed as Revolution 409 performs covers of [[The Osmonds]] - [[Crazy Horses]] & [[The Sylvers]], [[Boogie Fever]].
** Billed as Ledd Kross performs a cover of [[Led Zeppelin]] - [[Stairway to Heaven]]
** Billed as Ledd Kross performs a cover of [[Led Zeppelin]] - [[Stairway to Heaven]]
* ''The Spirit of 76 - Original Soundtrack'' ([[Rhino Records|Rhino]]) (1991)
** Includes "1976"
* ''Freedom of Choice: Yesterday's New Wave Hits as Performed by Today's Stars'' (City Slang/[[Caroline Records|Caroline]]) (1992)
* ''Freedom of Choice: Yesterday's New Wave Hits as Performed by Today's Stars'' (City Slang/[[Caroline Records|Caroline]]) (1992)
** Band covers The Go-Gos song "[[How Much More]]"
** Band covers The Go-Gos song "[[How Much More]]"
* ''Shared Vision – The Songs of the Beatles'' (Hammer and Lace/[[Mercury]]) (1993)
* ''Shared Vision – The Songs of the Beatles'' (Hammer and Lace/[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]) (1993)
** Band covers Beatles song "[[It Won't Be Long]]"
** Band covers Beatles song "[[It Won't Be Long]]"
* ''[[If I Were a Carpenter (tribute album)|If I Were a Carpenter]]'' ([[A & M Records|A & M]]) (1994)
* ''[[If I Were a Carpenter (tribute album)|If I Were a Carpenter]]'' ([[A & M Records|A & M]]) (1994)
Line 239: Line 234:
* ''Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the '90s'' ([[Rhino Records|Rhino]]) (1997)
* ''Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the '90s'' ([[Rhino Records|Rhino]]) (1997)
** Includes "Lady in the Front Row"
** Includes "Lady in the Front Row"
* ''KISS Tribute in Japan'' ([[Mercury]]) (1998)
* ''KISS Tribute in Japan'' ([[Mercury Records|Mercury]]) (1998)
** With Kanako Nakayama, Redd Kross performs a cover of "Hard Luck Woman"
** With Kanako Nakayama, Redd Kross performs a cover of "Hard Luck Woman"


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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.reddkross.com Redd Kross official website]
*[http://www.reddkross.com Redd Kross official website]
*{{allmusic}}
*[http://thebubblegumfactory.info/ The Bubblegum Factory: Redd Kross Fan Page with bio, press info, gig posters, photos and complete discography.]
*[http://thebubblegumfactory.info/ The Bubblegum Factory: Redd Kross Fan Page with bio, press info, gig posters, photos and complete discography.]


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[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American power pop groups]]
[[Category:American power pop groups]]
[[Category:Hardcore punk groups from California]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1980]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1980]]
[[Category:Pop punk groups from California]]
[[Category:Pop punk groups from California]]

Latest revision as of 20:43, 18 November 2024

Redd Kross
Redd Kross in 2007
Redd Kross in 2007
Background information
Also known as
  • The Tourists
  • Red Cross
OriginHawthorne, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active
  • 1980–1997
  • 2004–present
MembersJeff McDonald
Steve McDonald
Jason Shapiro
Dale Crover
Past membersDez Cadena
Gere Fennelly
Robert Hecker
Greg Hetson
Janet Housden
Victor Indrizzo
Jack Irons
Eddie Kurdziel
Tracy Lea
Dave Peterson
Vicki Peterson
Brian Reitzell
Ron Reyes
John Stielow
Eric Skodis
Roy McDonald
Chett Lehrer
Websitehttps://reddkross.com

Redd Kross is an American rock band from Hawthorne, California, who had their roots in 1978 in a punk rock band called the Tourists, which was started by brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald while Steve was still in middle school.[1] With the addition of friends Greg Hetson and John Stielow on drums, the band's first gig was opening for Black Flag. The band has since released eight albums and three EPs.

Career

[edit]

Red Cross

[edit]

In April 1979, the band had their first practice in the living room of original drummer, John Stielow's parent's home. They eventually changed the band name to Red Cross, which was allegedly inspired by the masturbation scene in the film The Exorcist.[2] They soon began working on their 1980 debut self-titled EP. Eventually, Hetson left to join the Circle Jerks (and later Bad Religion) and Reyes left for Black Flag.[1] They appeared on the Posh Boy compilation The Siren, and then to complete the lineup on their first full-length album, Born Innocent, they assembled a revolving door of musicians including original drummer John Stielow.[1] Full of the brothers' pop culture obsessions, Born Innocent featured odes to Linda Blair (who starred in a television movie of the same name), a cover of "Look on Up from the Bottom" by the Carrie Nations from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and Charles Manson (whose song "Cease to Exist" they covered). The album also contains nods to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Tatum O'Neal, and Lita Ford. Not long after the release of the album, the group was threatened with a lawsuit from the International Red Cross and changed the spelling of their name to Redd Kross.[1]

Redd Kross

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In 1984, Redd Kross returned with drummer Dave Peterson to record Teen Babes from Monsanto, an album featuring covers. Later that year, lead guitarist Robert Hecker joined the band, as they embarked on tour in support of Teen Babes from Monsanto. In that same year, they were featured on the soundtrack of Desperate Teenage Lovedolls with their cover of the Brady Bunch Kids' "It's a Sunshine Day".

In 1987, Redd Kross released Neurotica.

1990s

[edit]
Jeff McDonald at Burger Boogaloo, Mosswood Park, Oakland, California, 2017

On February 20, 1990, Redd Kross appeared on Episode 2 of the cult Public-access television show "Decoupage" with Summer Caprice.[3]

In 1990, Redd Kross signed with Atlantic Records, releasing Third Eye,[1] and appeared with David Cassidy in the film Spirit of '76, and issued several singles, including "Annie's Gone", which had some mild success on college radio.

The album Phaseshifter was released in 1993,[1] with new band members Eddie Kurdziel, Gere Fennelly, and Brian Reitzell. The videos for "Jimmy's Fantasy" and "Lady In The Front Row" were both shown on MTV's 120 Minutes. They toured on Phaseshifter for over a year, headlining their own shows as well as tours supporting The Lemonheads and The Spin Doctors in late 1993 and Stone Temple Pilots in 1994.

In 1997, Redd Kross released Show World,[1] produced by Chris Shaw (who also produced albums for Weezer and Soul Asylum) and toured supporting The Presidents of the United States of America. The band took an indefinite hiatus after the Show World tour, and their future was uncertain after the death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel on June 6, 1999.


Steve McDonald of Redd Kross at Burger Boogaloo, Mosswood Park, Oakland, California, 2017

2010s

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In 2019, Emmy Award-winning television comedy writer Andrew Reich, best known as an Executive Producer on Friends, was directing a documentary on the band called Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.[4]

2020s

[edit]

On June 26, 2020, the band reissued their debut EP on Merge Records.[5]

Steven McDonald and Redd Kross were included in a feature article for the 25th anniversary of TapeOp magazine.[6]

The documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story received its Los Angeles premiere at the Don't Knock the Rock Festival on May 23, 2024.[7]

On June 28, 2024, Redd Kross released its 8th studio album, a self-titled double album, featuring singles "Candy Coloured Catastrophe" and "Too Good to Be True."

Side projects

[edit]

The McDonald brothers collaborated with Astrid McDonald (Jeff's daughter with Charlotte Caffey, guitarist for The Go-Go's) and Anna Waronker (Steve's wife, frontwoman of That Dog) on a side project. Performing as Ze Malibu Kids, they released the album Sound It Out in 2002.[8][9]

Both McDonald brothers appeared with David Cassidy in the comedy film The Spirit of '76. [10]

Soundtracks

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Redd Kross songs appear on the soundtracks to Desperate Teenage Lovedolls, Good Burger, PCU, Bordello of Blood, An American Werewolf in Paris, and Varsity Blues. Their song "1976" plays over the end credits of the 1990 movie Spirit of '76. They contributed one song "It's a Scream" for the 2000 film Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday The Thirteenth but the soundtrack was never released and the song itself wasn't heard until it appeared on Hot Issue in 2016. The song "Uglier" was licensed and used in the film Hits by David Cross.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Year Label Peak chart positions
AUS
[11]
Born Innocent 1982 Smoke 7/Frontier —
Neurotica 1987 Big Time —
Third Eye 1990 Atlantic —
Phaseshifter 1993 This Way Up 99
Show World 1997 Mercury/This Way Up —
Researching the Blues 2012 Merge —
Beyond the Door 2019 Merge —
Redd Kross AKA The Redd Album 2024 In the Red Records —

EPs

[edit]

Compilations

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  • Hot Issue (Redd Kross Fashion Records) (2016)
  • Oh Canada! Hot Issue Vol. 2: Show World Tour Live (Redd Kross Fashion Records) (2016)

DVDs

[edit]
  • Got Live If You Must (Bittersweet)(2008)
  • A History Lesson Part 1 - Independent (2010)

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Chart positions Album
US
Modern
Rock 		AUS
[11] 		UK
[12]
1990 "Annie's Gone" 16 — — Third Eye
1992 "Trance" — — — -
1993 "Switchblade Sister" — — — -
"Jimmy's Fantasy" — — — Phaseshifter
"Lady in the Front Row" — 97 —
1994 "Visionary" — — 75
"Yesterday Once More" — 84 45 If I Were a Carpenter
1997 "Get Out Of Myself" — — 63 Show World
"Mess Around" — — 84
"Secret Life" — — 95

Compilation appearances

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 404/5. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
  2. ^ "The Last • View topic - A few interesting dates that nobody asked for". March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "Yesterday Clips Gallery". Decoupagetv.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  4. ^ Aswad, Jem (September 10, 2019). "Legendary L.A. Band Redd Kross Drop Trailer for 'Born Innocent' Documentary". Variety. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Redd Kross to re-issue debut EP". Punknews.org. April 16, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  6. ^ "Steven McDonald & Redd Kross: What's a Band to Do?". tapeop.com. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Aswad, Jem (May 21, 2024). "The Story of Redd Kross, the Most Underrated Band of Their Generation, Is Told in Fascinating Detail in the New Documentary 'Born Innocent'". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Sound It Out - Ze Malibu Kids : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  9. ^ "Ze Malibu Kids @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  10. ^ "The Spirit of '76 (1990)". IMDb. October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Australian chart peaks:
  12. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 454. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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